Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide system (10) is selectively deployable in either a foreshortened or lengthened configuration. The foot end (50) of the escape slide (12) includes a compartment (92) containing an extensible slide portion (70) stored in an undeployed condition. The compartment is sealed by means of conventional speed lacing (92) held together by a single master loop (96). A pyrotechnic cable cutter (98) is attached to the master loop (96) to severe it at the appropriate time thereby releasing the extensible portion of the slide. A control circuit (100) determines whether to deploy the extensible portion based on input from a non-contacting electronic sensor (110) such as an inclinometer.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for emergency evacuation of an aircraft comprises a pair of main support tubes supporting a flexible sliding surface. The main support tubes taper from a widest point near the exit opening of the aircraft to a narrowest point at the foot end of the slide. This arrangement of main support tubes, together with the toe end transverse tube and the head end transverse tube, form a quasi-trapezoidal truss structure, which is inherently more stable than the rectangular slides of the prior art.